Preparing for Staging & Distribution

To ensure that the components required for the site installation are available. Where possible, the site preparations must be sufficiently flexible to accommodate changes in the configuration that may occur during development.The deployment must allow sufficient time to wait for stable, tested systems, while allowing sufficient lead time for delivery.

Site and Equipment Assignments

Once the configurations are completed and signed off, equipment assignments can be done.If the configurations are not finalized then consider identifying classes of site (e.g., small, medium, large, or by function: imaging, service, LAN, WAN) and matching each site with a classification as a starting point.Equipment assignments will be based on the classifications, and will require review and approval for final configurations.

Once the site equipment assignments have been approved, they may only be changed by a formal project change request.The equipment assignment list (or bill of materials) becomes the basis for the configuration inventory.This list is augmented by spare equipment requirements, installation tools and supplies, training requirements, remote site communication and operations equipment, and a percentage allotment for anticipated additional sites.

Identify Sourcing

The technology selections in earlier activities identified candidate vendors. Select the vendors based on the short list.

Approval of the configuration allows the procurement team to select the vendors.Since successful deployment requires a solid, dependable suite of vendors,vendors must be known industry players with reputations for dependable products and adherence to delivery schedules.It is important to note that these considerations must sometimes be adjusted when dealing with leading edge technologies such as imaging.

Identify Staging Facility

Identify a facility to provide ample space to support the following major activities:

Â·Shipping and receiving.

Â·Burn-in room (and database loading).

Â·Integration (component assembly).

Â·Inventory storage.

Ensure the burn-in room is equipped with ample electrical outlets to support product burn-in for the number of system components being deployed to the field.

If a facility must be located and leased for a period coinciding with the overall deployment schedule, identify the candidates and also consider requirements for facility security, insurance, and maintenance.

Ensure sufficient time so that the facility can be in operation at least two full weeks prior to receiving equipment.

Procure Equipment

Procure equipment based on the approved configuration list.

Isolate the vendor and the procurement process from the deployment process, to maximize control over equipment delivery and minimize the overall deployment scheduling risk.Identify a procedure to manage the procurement.

If necessary, specify multiple delivery dates to ensure that the proper quantities of components are received at the appropriate times to support development, internal testing, pilot installations, and staging for delivery to the various operational sites.

Optimize these items along with other just-in-time concepts to minimize inventory carrying costs and procure components according to the schedule.

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